General Information and Strategies

Choose an additional academic area of study to supplement the foreign language, preferably one that requires a high degree of technical skill. Most people with foreign language ability use those skills to assist them in a different career field such as business, education, journalism, law, etc.

Choose which language and culture appeals to you most. Consider the level of foreign language ability you will need to acquire for success in your career. Possible languages to study: Spanish, German, French, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Hebrew, Arabic, and Portuguese. Some languages will offer more job opportunities than other languages in various industries or geographic locales.

Related courses to study include geography, history, civilization, foreign relations, international law, and world economics.

Plan to attend a private language institute to learn additional languages and cultures.

Travel to a foreign country or study abroad ininternational exchange programs to develop your language skills and international/intercultural competency.

Seek opportunities to interact with international students on your campus or members of your local community. Host international students, join relevant student organizations, and participate in international campus events.